Fitness | Going Green | Keep Learning | Kudos & Raves | Volunteer
• Splish Splash! Did you know that Goose Creek residents pay just $50 per year for membership in one of the finest fitness facilities in the Lowcounty? The Goose Creek Community Center houses a state-of-the-art fitness center with weight training area, cardio-deck, walking track, climbing wall and basketball gym. Non-residents can pay $10 a day or $300 a year for membership. www.goosecreekrecreation.com
• The Coach Approach at the YMCA. Have you joined a gym, only to stop going because you feel frustrated and unhappy with your results? The YMCA's of Summerville offer a program to help beginners get off to a good start with their physical activity. This free program to members includes 6 one-on-one sessions which will help you to customize your physical activity to minimize your risk of dropping out and learn how to deal with other obstacles that keep you from exercise. Three locations in Summerville: www.summervilleymca.org
• ZUMBA: Tone your body, improve your strength, and burn calories in this Latin-inspired dance fitness class. You don’t need to know how to dance to enjoy Zumba. *No class December 21, 28. Tuesdays Ongoing 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department
• Tone Up. Slim Down. Workout. With Just Women! Pole dance is an extraordinarily graceful and exciting art; the foundation of which is built through ballet, gymnastics, belly dance, burlesque and multiple diverse forms of dance. Now, this artistic form of fitness has been made available to you...in 3 locations: Hanahan (1300 Yeamans Hall Road), Summerville (223A South Cedar Street), and Mt. Pleasant (Anna Knapp Plaza). In 2009, Goddess Dance Studio™ was responsible for assisting the women of the Lowcountry in loosing another 2,500 pounds! Goddess Dance Studio.
• Aerial Yoga? Yep, that's right. It's a new program that combines traditional yoga with the physical training of an aerial acrobat. Designed for those with no aerial experience, this practice uses a low-hanging soft fabric trapeze to support body weight for deep stretching, effortless inversions, deep core strengthening, and FUN. Group classes are held at Master's Studio in North Charleston (7260 Rab Drive). Aerial Fit
• Bodycology In this cutting edge class you will box, kick, jump, lift, lengthen, breathe, and balance with the newest moves. Sweat and empower yourself using pilates, yoga, martial arts, weights, and stability ball. Designed to incorporate all aspects of fitness and wellness, nutritional tips are given during each class to provide you with the information and the workout you need to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Eco Fitness• Green Is The New Black. Did you resolve to “Go Green” in 2010? Our natural resources attract newcomers and drive growth in the Greater Charleston area, so it is important to preserve and keep these resources abundant and beautiful. Learn how to live more sustainably at the Third Annual Green Living Festival May 15th and 16th at Exchange Park in Ladson, SC. Check out exhibitors, speakers, green shopping and giveaways, and get answers to questions on how to live healthy and sustainably. Want to keep up with green news in the Greater Charleston area? For the latest news on green activities and legislation, green organizations and business, where to buy locally, and information on recycling and sustainable living., visit www.gogreencharleston.org
• Make every day Earth Day! “Local communities can do much to reverse environmental degradation and contribute to building a healthy society by addressing issues such as water quality protection, energy use, transportation, waste prevention, and litter control,” said Mayor Swails. Tips you can use to make every day – Earth Day!
• Home composting and recycling help reduce garbage loads to the landfill and incinerator. Less garbage and trash to collect means fewer dump trucks on the street.
• Make sure you take care of your lawn and home responsibly. Do not let grass clippings, leaves, fertilizers, pet waste, and automotive fluids go down the storm drain.
• Mark your storm drain. We have a program to mark storm drains with a long-lasting decal that has a “no-dumping” message. Contact the Stormwater Office at 856-2157.
• Plant a rain garden using native plant and install a rain barrel to harvest water for irrigation. Install a pervious-paver driveway instead of a concrete one. We want to capture and re-use our rain run-off instead of flushing it and pollutants down the creeks.
• Changing out your light bulbs? Need new batteries? Your old products and most of these new energy-efficient products need to be recycled or disposed off in special ways. Check with your local hardware store or Charleston County Recycling at 720-7111 to find appropriate drop-off sites.
• Litter is a recurring problem. Adopt-a-Highway program is always looking for more volunteer groups. The Town offers supplies to smaller groups who would like to clean up roadways. Contact the Stormwater Office at 856-2157.
• Pick up your pet’s waste and dispose of it (in a bag) in your garbage can. We supply most Town parks with pet waste pick-up bags. Help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses into our waterways!
• Plant a tree (native species are better). Trees help provide shade to our homes (reducing energy costs), they drink up extra rain water, clean the air, help prevent erosion, and provide wildlife sanctuary.
• Go electronic and refrain from printing everything you see on line!
• Take a walk or ride a bike, help the environment and your waistline at the same time.
• Locomotives Are Going Green Thanks to a $105,000 grant from SC DHEC and a funding match by the South Carolina Public Railways, two locomotives are being retrofitted to burn cleaner diesel fuel, which translates to cleaner air in and around Charleston! “By making that burn leaner and cleaner that reduces sulfur oxide emitted from smoke,” said Jeff Davis, COO of the South Carolina Public Railways. It is a significant reduction considering the amount of work the engines put in as they move cargo around the port facility. The retrofitting was a voluntary effort on the part of the South Carolina Pulblic Railways, one that’s being commended by DHEC. Keep reading...• Keep Learning...For Next to Nothing! Seniors, sharpen your pencils and pack up your book bags! The College of Charleston offers undergraduate courses for only $25 to anyone who is sixty years of age or older. You won’t be alone. Every semester approximately 100 seniors enjoy these benefits and enroll in classes at The College of Charleston. So, whether you are interested in pursuing a degree, taking a few art classes, or learning another language there is a variety of courses to suit your interests. Some courses include The History of South Carolina, Creative Drama, and Introduction to Coastal and Marine Geology. Registration takes place between 9:00 a.m. and noon the day after classes begin each fall and spring semester. Classes with reduced fees are also available at Trident Technical College.
• Urban Myth? Contrary to popular belief, the city market in downtown Charleston was not used as a location to auction and sell slaves. The land was donated over 220 years ago by a wealthy family to be used only as a public market for local merchants. It was donated under the stipulation that the property must be given back to the family if the city used it for any other purpose. The Old Slave Mart, the only known extant building used as a slave auction gallery in South Carolina, is located a few blocks from the city market.
• Intellectual Pursuits: Public Seminars, Lectures & Culture. A lecture on contemporary Japanese culture in film or a seminar regarding the history of communications, choir recitals and juried art exhibits... there are many opportunities for learning and enrichment at Greater Charleston’s colleges and universities. Whether you want to see a recital performed by choir at Charleston Southern University’s Horton School of Music or attend a seminar at the College of Charleston, it is all right in your own backyard.
• French Quarter Art Walks. The mood is festive and lively as artists and art patrons, art lovers and fun lovers get together for this event. A fabulous and fun way to view the works of over 500 artists, many local to the area. All galleries of the French Quarter are open after hours, from 5-8, and this year's remaining strolls will be held October 1 and December 3. Everyone's invited! Refreshments offered. Free. www.frenchquarterarts.com
• A Starter’s Guide to Looking at Art: From Ancient through Medieval Art History. This seminar, taught by Dr. Steve Gavel over the course of two six week sessions, offers students the opportunity to discuss and understand the visual arts from ancient times through the late medieval period. Designed to improve students’ visual literacy, the course will provide an analysis of the aesthetic concepts and cultural influences that impacted art during the various time periods. In addition, the course will examine how art objects are collected, displayed, and interpreted in a museum setting. Wednesdays, January 12-February 16, 2011 from 5:30-7:00pm. Click here to register. Gibbes Museum.
• The Art of Jonathan Green. Artist Jonathan Green donated 30 of his art posters to the Avery Research Center with the challenge that we work with members of the community to frame them. We decided to have persons donate through a dedication to members of their family, an organization, a church or just to the arts. The response has been overwhelming. Exhibition on display through December 2010. The Avery Research Center is located at the College of Charleston. avery.cofc.edu
• Immerse Yourself in Plantation History & Have Fun! West Ashley is named for its location along the west side of the Ashley River, and rice plantations of the 1700's were built along this waterway. Three are preserved and open to the public, and all are along Ashley River Road: Magnolia Plantation, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place. Locals join in on special events throughout the year.
• SO WHAT ARE THOSE Buildings at the End of Fort Johnson Road and CAN I VISIT? James Island is best remembered for hosting the first mortar shell shot fired upon Fort Sumter during the Civil War and has remained an integral part of Charleston’s rich history. Today, the College of Charleston owns this 40-acre property which is now home to their Marine Biology graduate program. The Fort Johnson Marine Science Center offers a seminar series on Friday afternoons at 4:00 pm. Recent topics included "Energy in the 21st Century: Issues and Concerns" and "Skeletal Muscle Structure in the Atlantic Blue Crab: Designed for Exercise?" Refreshments are served before each seminar and at a TGIF with the seminar speaker, which occurs at the White House or the Outdoor Classroom after the seminar. spinner.cofc.edu/grice/fjseminars.htm
• North Charleston City Gallery and Gift Shop. The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department offers a public exhibition opportunity for serious visual and fine craft artists in the South Carolina region. The North Charleston City Gallery is located in the common areas of the North Charleston Performing Arts and Charleston Area Convention Center Complex. Exhibits are rotated on a monthly basis and may feature two or more artists in the Gallery space each month. Paintings, prints, note cards and other art objects are offered for sale. www.northcharleston.org
• The Meeting Place Window Exhibits. The Meeting Place, located at 1077 East Montague Avenue in the revitalized Olde North Charleston Business District, hosts window exhibits that provide an informal public exhibition opportunity for visual and fine craft artists. These window exhibits offer 24 hour visibility, allowing residents and visitors to view the artwork at any time. Exhibits are rotated on a bi-monthly basis and may feature two or more artists in the window space each month. November/December: Stacey Rosebrock; January/February: TBD; March: Keller Lee.
• National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. The National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition features up to 15 sculptures by established and emerging artists from across the nation. The 11 month exhibition offers sculptors the opportunity to display their imaginative and thought provoking large-scale sculpture throughout the picturesque Riverfront Park, as well as compete for honorariums and awards. The annual exhibition is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and is a component of the North Charleston Arts Festival. National Outdoor Sculpture.• Where's the Goose Creek? There isn't one. The source of the name "Goose Creek" has been lost to history. Some have theorized that the area was named after the gooseneck turns in the creek that extended off the Cooper River. Others say the name came from the prominence of geese in the waterway. It is possible that the name has Native American origins. No matter the source, since the late 1600s this area of the low country has been known as Goose Creek.
• Build Your Business and Your Future Leadership Dorchester. This program is an intensive county-wide Leadership Development Program designed to give potential emerging leaders the knowledge and skill sets that they will need to successfully provide community leadership in the future. The Leadership program is ideal for business and industry and new leaders in the public sector, nonprofits, government, institutions and the professions. www.gsdcchamber.org
• Sculpture in the South. Sculpture in the South is a non-profit organization that promotes the art of sculpture through education, and is dedicated to the creation of a permanent public sculpture collection that enhances Summerville, South Carolina’s public spaces -- art that everyone can enjoy. Stop by the Greater Summerville Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce at 402 N. Main Street and pick up a free Hands On Guide to Summerville’s Permanent Public Sculpture and take a wonderful leisurely tour of their collection. www.sculptureinthesouth.com
• History Buff ... or Wannabe One? Visitors to Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site are walking into a rare look at a remarkably preserved past. An archaeological treasure, the park rests on the site of Dorchester, a trading town that flourished on the Ashley River inland from Charleston from 1697 through the Revolutionary War. Intact remains of the old town include the brick bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Church, a fort made of the oyster-shell concrete called tabby, and part of a log wharf visible at low tide. When the town was abandoned after the Revolution, the forest and later a community park protected the site, leaving remarkably undisturbed evidence of village life just beneath the surface. Today, visitors to Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site can watch as archaeologists unearth the settlement’s history. Together with abundant historical records from Charleston, the site is helping to paint a clearer picture of colonial life in the American South. www.southcarolinaparks.com
• The Beautiful Pine Forest Inn. Did you know that at one time, a magnificent inn stood among the pines in Summerville, and attracted people of wealth from around the world? The Pine Forest Inn was built in 1889 and at its finest moment in 1902, was visited by President Theodore Roosevelt. He and his party were in the Charleston area to attend the South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition. The Inn had 150 guest rooms, grandiose lobbies, staircases and a dining room that sat 250.
• SC-based airmen return home from Middle East! About 130 airmen from a South Carolina Air Force base have returned home from the Middle East after logging 8,000 flying hours during a four-month deployment. Air Force spokeswoman Trisha Gallaway said Tuesday the unit from Charleston Air Force Base that returned on Monday dropped 8 million pounds of cargo to more than 160 drop zones during their deployment. Overall, the unit airlifted more than 148 million pounds of cargo and 37,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilian visitors in the region. The unit flies C-17 Globemaster transports and logged more than 8,000 flying hours over Iraq, the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan. Great job gals and guys!
• SCEG.com What a Great Resource! South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) has a terrific website that offers information on many energy-related topics - things like the value of switching to natural gas, the money you save with natural gas, ways to make your home more energy-efficient, information on energy tax credits and appliance tax credits, in-home energy consultations, online energy audits, sign up for an energy-saving tips newsletter, how to weatherize your home and much more. sceg.com
• Welcome Boeing! Everyone in Greater Charleston is super-excited about our newest employer - Boeing! Why’d they choose us? Skilled work force, significant tax advantages, existing and added infrastructure including airport facilities, business environment and logistics. Boeing plans to create 3,800 jobs and will invest over $750 million in the next 7 years. Doug Woodward, director of research and an economics professor at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business says that “Boeing is one of those rarefied companies which everyone knows and recognizes as a leader in the field, and to have that in South Carolina - is an intangible benefit aside from jobs and income generated… and I think it will put Charleston on a lot of people’s lists of the hottest places to be in 2010.” Boeing is expected to bring 10-15 suppliers to the region as well. www.boeing.com
• Way to go, Joe! Charleston's beloved mayor, the Hon. Joseph P. Riley, Jr., was among 12 people honored at the White House with the National Medal of Art, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence. The medals were presented by President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michele Obama in an East Room ceremony on February 26, 2010. The National Medal of Arts is a White House initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Included in this year's group of recipients were Mayor Riley, Bob Dylan and Clint Eastwood. The National Endowment for the Arts described his contribution this way: "Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. is a visionary in the field of urban design and the creation of livable cities. In nine terms as the mayor of Charleston, Mayor Riley has drawn on and nurtured the city’s historic and artistic resources to reinvigorate it, economically and culturally, setting a national standard for urban revitalization in the process. His success spurred him to create, with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mayors' Institute on City Design in 1986, which has brought more than 800 mayors together with acclaimed architects, urban planners, developers, and others to help transform communities through design and stewardship. "
• Way to Go, Porter Gaud! Each year the National Merit Scholarship Program receives about 1.5 million applications from students throughout the United States and awards scholarships to college bound students based on their PSAT scores. The Top 16,000 scorers, or 1% of High School seniors, qualify as semi-finalists to compete for only 2,500 scholarships. Charleston’s own Porter Gaud School had 8 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists in 2009, and they all successfully competed and became finalists! Porter Gaud is a is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory day school located just across the Ashley River from downtown Charleston. The National Merit Scholarship Program awards scholarships based on outstanding academic record, endorsement by school principal, high SAT scores, a self descriptive essay and participation and leadership in school events and the community. www.portergaud.edu
• The Town of Mt. Pleasant Awarded SC Housing Achievement Award for its efforts in workforce housing. “This is the second time in less than a year that the Town of Mount Pleasant has been recognized for its work on workforce housing,” said Mayor Billy Swails. Workforce housing is a relatively new term embraced nationally by planners, government administrators, housing activists and some developers. It refers to homes providing affordable housing opportunities for gainfully employed essential workers such as police officers, firemen, teachers, nurses, office workers and medical technicians. Providing housing opportunities for all segments of the Town’s population is critical in creating an economically and socially sustainable community. The provision of workforce housing is important to economic development as the availability of affordable housing helps attract and retain essential workers – an important factor for companies looking to relocate or open a new facility. Way to go Mt. Pleasant! www.townofmountpleasant.com/index
• Home of the Good Guys - Heeding the Call to Haiti. Within days of the Jan. 12th earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti, MUSC physicians and volunteers packed their bags and found themselves in the rural, mountainous terrain of this poor, Caribbean nation as they provided life-saving care to dozens of critically injured patients. Since the event, MUSC and the Department of Orthopedics have sent two multi-disciplinary medical surgical teams to provide early relief efforts working with medical volunteers at Hospital Lumiere, located in Bonne Fin in Southern Haiti. The effort is considered a start in what will be a collaborative, ongoing effort. www.musc.edu/catalyst
• Cutting Edge Technology in Healthcare... Literally! Cyberknife RadioSurgery. The Roper St. Francis Cancer Center is proud to be the first and only facility in South Carolina offering CyberKnife treatments. CyberKnife is a painless, noninvasive radiation treatment that is an alternative to conventional surgery. Using revolutionary technology, CyberKnife delivers high dose radiation with extreme accuracy to tumors anywhere in the body, offering new hope to patients with previously inoperable tumors. www.ropersaintfrancis.com
• 2009 Award of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development. The Home Depot® Foundation of Atlanta, GA announced that the City of North Charleston and its non-profit partner, The Sustainability Institute of South Carolina, have been named as winners of its 2009 Award of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development. North Charleston joins Minneapolis, MN, as one of only two winners nationally for this prestigious, first-ever honor. “Clearly, North Charleston is moving to the forefront of sustainable communities in the US,” says Mayor R. Keith Summey. “Recent economic development announcements and national honors point to the city as planting the seeds for a 21st Century economy. Without question, The Home Depot Foundation award is a reliable indication that North Charleston is improving the quality of life for its citizens.” The Award of Excellence comes on the heels of two major economic development announcements in North Charleston this fall, with the decision by Boeing Aircraft to build a massive assembly plant for its new Dreamliner passenger planes, and the US Department of Energy’s decision to award the Clemson University Restoration Institute with its federal wind turbine research center. Both announcements will have a profound impact on the local and state economy, and are projected to generate thousands of high-paying jobs. www.noisettesc.com
• CARE. The North Charleston Police Department has a unique program designed to benefit elderly or handicapped people living alone. The program is knows as CARE, which stands for Call Reassurance. The department has provided this service since 1995 and the participation has declined over the years. They are attempting to increase community interest and involvement. The program involves checking on program participants by calling them each day at a designated time. The system is automated and will only send assistance if the phone call is not answered. This service is free and available only to the citizens of North Charleston. If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from this service, please call Tonia Mallette for more information at 745-1015.
• NWS Charleston Sailors participate in mentorship program in Town! Sixty students from Goose Creek High School, ranging from freshman to senior year, participated in the 2nd annual Goose Creek Shadowing project at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Charleston Thursday, Feb. 4. Students were paired with NWS Charleston staff members whose careers matched their own professional ambitions. Military personnel and civilian employees volunteered to participate in the shadowing project providing students hands-on, vocational experience that linked schoolwork to real life. The Naval Weapons Station is the area's largest employer with 17,000 in personnel. www.cnic.navy.mil
• We Recognize a Winner when We See One! John McKissick, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach was hired as head football coach at Summerville High School in 1952. During the 1993 season, he became the winningest football coach in history on any level when he broke the record of 405 wins held by Gordon Wood of Texas. Coach reached another milestone in 2003 by winning his 500th game. His present record stands at 556 wins, 130 losses and 13 ties. His teams have won the region title 30 out of 54 years and 10 state championships. From 1978 – 1980, his teams compiled a 41-game winning streak, the longest ever in South Carolina. Coach has held the national record for the most victories at one school since 1986. www.summervilleathletics.com
• Great Job Charleston Senior Center Members! Thanks to the support of the CSC members for their help in providing "canned" meats to the Charleston Senior Center during June. Not only did you provide much needed meat, you also made a $250 to assist the center with their home delivered meal program.
• Firehouse Subs to Donate Lifesaving Device to MPFD | Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Herb Williams announced that the Mount Pleasant Fire Department has received a $16,000 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The award, secured through the grant writing efforts of Capt. Rob Wronski, will allow the department to purchase an AutoPulse - an automated, portable device that squeezes the entire chest, improving blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
• Girl Scouts name Women of Distinction VanThullenar among the ten honorees for 2010 | Barbara VanThullenar/Nonprofit. VanThullenar is the executive director of Camp Merry Times, which provides a camp experience for children with cancer. She works as a registered nurse and cares for hospice patients, and recently created the Summer House foundation, which provides a day camp experience for children with disabilities and special needs. VanThullenar is also active in her church, Christ Our King, and is a leader in the Crusillo movement in South Carolina. She lives in Mt. Pleasant. Read the Article!
• The Memorial Waterfront Park Commemorative Brick Program The Town of Mount Pleasant welcomes families and friends of service men and women to take part in the opportunity to honor their loved ones at the Memorial Waterfront Park. The Town has unveiled a commemorative brick program to honor veterans living or deceased who have served their country bravely and honorably. Read more about it!• Mount Pleasant named a 2010 All-America City Award Winner! The National Civic League announced the winners of the 61st annual All-America City award during a raucous celebration at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City on June 18. The crowds cheered loudly as, one by one, delegations from the ten winning communities streamed onstage to accept their awards. Mount Pleasant was the only municipality representing South Carolina. It was a first win for the Lowcountry community. “It is with great pleasure and pride that the Town of Mount Pleasant was recently awarded the All-America City designation from the National Civic League,” announced Mayor Billy Swails. “Being named an All-America City is a tremendous honor. Through a winning presentation, they highlighted our ongoing work to revitalize our main street, Coleman Boulevard, the civic engagement that spearheaded the public improvements to Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, and our cooperative relationship with the Charleston County School District and all our community stakeholders.“ The 61-year old awards program recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions for outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, communities have to demonstrate an ability to address serious challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that promote civic engagement and cooperation between the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Town of Mt. Pleasant
• Alright, Wando High! Wando High School received the National Student Council Award for its exemplary record of leadership, service, and activities that serve to improve the school and community, Wando High School has been awarded a 2010 National Gold Council of Excellence Award by the National Association of Student Councils. Over 150 high schools were named National Councils of Excellence but Wando is one of 131 of those high schools nationwide to receive the highly-esteemed honor of being named a National Gold Council of Excellence. To meet the requirements for the National Council of Excellence award, a student council must demonstrate that it meets a variety of criteria. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings, a democratic election process, and membership in NASC, schools that qualify for the award demonstrate such things as leadership training for council members, teacher/staff appreciation activities, student recognition programs, school and community service projects, spirit activities, goal setting, financial planning, and active participation in their state and national student council associations. Read More!
• South Carolina Home Recognized for its Energy Efficiency. A house on Sullivan’s island has received national recognition for not only its looks, but also its energy efficiency. Featured in April’s edition of Coastal Living – the Herlong’s home on Sullivan’s island is as pretty on the outside as it is inside. Steve Herlong is an architect, and designed the home with his wife making sure that it is energy efficient.“Every fixture that we use is energy star rated,” he said. Even the lighting was designed to conserve energy.“We use CFL bulbs in the fixtures. We use dimmable fixtures as well to reduce the electrical usage,” he said. Plus, the house was also built to handle some of the worst weather. Impact resistant windows and steel inside the walls make the house capable to stand up to the winds in a category three hurricane. Read more about the Herlongs going green!
• Outdoor Center Looking for Volunteers. Guests who visit Middleton Place are invited to visit the center to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area and to see some of these native species up-close. The Outdoor Center also has several education exhibits, birding checklists, field guides and a variety of nature books available to the public. Outdoor Center volunteers can assist staff naturalists with nature walks, school groups, kayak tours, interact with visitors, and help care for the center’s reptile and amphibian residents. For additional information on volunteer opportunities or the various programs offered by the Middleton Place Outdoor Center, please call (843) 266-7492.
• Keep North Charleston Beautiful! As a KNCB volunteer you can participate in hands-on beautification activities such as planting flowers, program planning and many other activities. Keep North Charleston Beautiful promotes programs that increase the cleanliness and overall beauty within the city. Projects have included cleanup campaigns, new trash containers in city parks, beautification of a median area and many other exciting projects. 745-1076
• Healthcare Volunteer at MUSC. Whether it's providing companionship, delivering flowers and magazines, or greeting patients and their families, MUSC has a lot of opportunity for you to give back! Help fulfill the MUSC mission to provide the best quality health care for patients by taking advantage of a variety of volunteer opportunities available at the hospital. 792-1414
• Meals on Wheels. Join a dedicated team that donates more than 20,000 years of service each year! There is no better way to show that you care about your East Cooper neighbors than to help deliver daily nutrition to them in the comfort and security of their own homes. 881-9350 www.ecmow.org
• Lowcountry Senior Center. Looking for a great way to participate in the life of the Center? There are many benefits to volunteering at the Lowcountry Senior Center! It keeps you active, motivated and gives you a chance to share your skills. A part of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Volunteer Program, there are several benefits volunteers may enjoy, such as preventative healthcare, training, recognition events and discounts. 762-9555 www.ropersaintfrancis.com
• Become a Host Family! Did you participate in exchange as a young person? Do you have children of your own that you want to expose to cultures beyond America's borders? Do you live in a wonderful community that you'd like to share with a curious and enthusiastic teenager? Consider becoming a host family to an exchange student and you can bring the world right into your home, and your community! Host families are a special group of Americans who not only want to share the best of our country, but who also want to expand their own global understanding and that of their neighbors by getting to know young people from other countries. All that is required of a family to host is a safe and caring environment where the student has his or her own bed, a quiet place to study and a seat at the table at mealtime. One host parent must be at least 25 years old. Foundation for Foreign Study.• VolunteerMatch.org has a number of volunteer opportunities! Check out what's available and get involved! VolunteerMatch.org